Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-12-28

About Thousand Men Refuse to YorI
With 'fRats."

About a Thousand Men Refuse to Work
With Gratis"
A dispatch of the 23d from Phila-
delphia says: Over 900 men employed
Company on their lines running from
West Falls to the Port Richmond coal
wharves, either as trainmen, coal
handlers or freight handlers quit
work this afternoon at half-past
4 O. clock. This action was caused by
the introduction of train crew Of five
non-union men to do the work upon
which union men had been employed
but who had been discharged This
movement will be communicated to all
the employees of the road and a general
strike on all the lines of the company
may be the result
The trouble originated yesterday
morning, when a crew of freight hand
lers, engaged in shifting cars loaded
with flour into pier controlled by the
firm of Charles M. Taylor's Sons, re-
fused to deliver any more freight to the
firm unless the nOn-union labOrers en-
ployed in handling the freight should
be discharged. Supt. Sweigard issued
an order discharging the crew who re-
fused to handle the freight, and threat
ened the same punishment to other
crews who would follow the precedent
All the remaining force, which consisted
of four crews, refusing to obey the
order, were discharged. The news of
the discharge quickly spread among
other employees of the company in Port
Richmond, and the stevedores to
the number of about 600 men
dropped their work A COM
mittee Of Knights of Labor called
upon General Manager Mcleod and
Supt. Sweigard with the purpose of set
Ting the difficulty and preventing a
general strike. The object was unsuc-
cess I'll, however, as the officers would
not listen to any excuses, claiming that
the work had to be done, and II the
present employees found it difficult to
obey orders, the management would be
compelled to look elsewhere for help.
This morning the officials of the road
went to work to lift the blockade and Sc
cured one crew of nOn-uniOn men. 1t
was feared they would be interiered
with by the strikers and in response to a
call upon the authorities body of about
$50 policemen were stationed so as to
best guard against interference. No dis
turbance occurred, however, and
the police found no occasion to
make any arrests. The mov-
ing Of the boycotted freight
began about $3.50 P. NJ. The news of the
renewal of work was quickly communi-
Gated among the other men at work and
concerted action Of quitting, was
speedily agreed upon. An hour was
given to allow the employees on the road
from West Falls to the river, to learn of
the determination, and at $780, when
the signal was given, every man stopped
work.
Shifting engines that were working on
the coal wharves quickly ran to their
usual resting place until the whole num-
Der, fourteen, were placed in one line,
and the crews Immediately drew the
fires and blew out the boilers. Men
That were wheeling coal dropped their
barrows, switchmen closed their switch
es and left the main line open; conduct
ols, brakemen and other employees lett
their work and quickly went to their
homes. Trouble is anticipated for sew
eral days and it is probable that the po
lice force will be retained to protect the
property of the company.
The representative of the five assem-
blies of Reading railroad employees, who
have formed National Trade District
assembly of the knights Of Labor, met
tonight and called general convention
for tomorrow afternoon to take further
action in the matter of the strike. 1t is
said upon good authority that word has
passed along the line Of the entire Read
ing system, and that the 10000 or 40, coo
men in the service of that company will
refuse to 90 to work tomorrow